Construction Activity Continuing on 15 Express Lanes

RCTC is making steady progress on construction of the Interstate 15 Express Lanes, and work is now about one-third complete. The new lanes will span 15 miles – from State Route 60 to Cajalco Road – and remain on schedule to open in 2020. A specific opening date has not been determined at this time.

Along the corridor, paving, bridge widening, and soundwall construction are continuing. Major milestones include:

Completing two bridges, with four other bridges in various stages of widening. Crews are widening a total of 11 bridges. Work will start in late February on the El Cerrito Bridge.

Finishing four of the six soundwalls. The final two soundwalls will be finished this spring.

Paving various roadway sections within the I-15 median.

Maintaining an accident and injury-free record during the first year of construction.

RCTC is using several innovations to improve project efficiency and decrease effects to motorists.

A design-build method is speeding up project delivery. This method uses the same designer and contractor, which saves time and costs while ensuring quality.

Construction innovations also are in place. An on-site cement plant, called a “batch plant,” was built to reduce the distance for crews to haul cement to the paving machines.

Crews also installed a conveyor belt at the batch plant to allow trucks to be loaded and travel within the median.

The project team continues to coordinate with the neighboring Limonite Avenue Interchange Project, led by the County of Riverside, and the Cajalco Road Interchange Project, led by the City of Corona. Teams are working closely and to ensure that all three projects to stay on schedule.

A robust construction schedule is planned for the next 12 months. Watch for more roadway paving, continued widening of bridges, and installing the tolling system infrastructure. Once the lanes are closer to completion, information will be available about the opening date, toll schedules, and account options.

The 15 Express Lanes team reminds motorists to be alert of construction activities and reduced speeds within the project corridor. Please allow extra travel time, follow posted detours, and avoid distracted driving.

To stay informed through weekly construction updates, register at 15project.info or text 15Express to 22828 to get started. Please follow the project on social media @15expresslanes.